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THE 


ENGLISH ANCESTRY 


ABRAHAM BELKNAP 

WHO SETTLED IN LYNN, MASS. 

1635 


SALEM, MASS. 
1914 




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1 


THE 


ENGLISH ANCESTRY 


a f 


ABRAHAM BELKNAP 

WHO SETTLED IN LYNN, MASS. 

1635 


SALEM, MASS. 
1914 



Reprinted from 

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 


100 Copies printed for 
Henry Wyckoff Belknap 


Gin 

Publish* 
JUN 2 ft(4 


3 


THE ENGLISH ANCESTRY OF THE AMERICAN 
BELKNAPS 


At different times during the past fifteen or eighteen years the 
compiler of this article has attempted to discover the ancestry of 
Abraham Belknap, who was a landowner at Lynn, Mass., in 1635 
or thereabouts, and who brought with him, when he came to New 
England, his wife Mary and several children. 

These efforts resulted in the acquisition of a considerable amount 
of information about a knightly family of Belknaps, from Sir Rob¬ 
ert de Belknap, who was chief justice of the Court of Common 
Pleas in the time of Richard II and died in 1400, down to his great- 
grandson, Sir Edward, who was born in 1473, was custodian of 
Warwick Castle and a privy councillor of Henry VIII, and died 26 
Mar. 1521, leaving no sons. 

The clue, however, which led to the discovery of the English 
home of the ancestors of Abraham Belknap was obtained from an 
old gentleman whose acquaintance was made several years ago 
through his reply to some genealogical queries. He had formerly 
lived in the parish of Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, and remembered 
that the name Belknap occurred in the parish registers there. He 
was employed to make a search, and in due time produced many 
entries from the registers of St. Mary the Great, Sawbridge worth, 
together with a number of wills from the Commissary Court of Lon¬ 
don for Essex and Herts. By piecing together the facts obtained 
from these records an incomplete pedigree of the family was secured, 
and a certain Bennet or Benedict Belknap seemed most likely to be 
the father of the American immigrant. Unfortunately, however, 
the will of this particular man, while recorded as having been offered 
for probate, was nowhere to be found, and the officials connected 
with the probate registry came to the conclusion that it had been 
placed at some time in the wrong bundle and was therefore prac¬ 
tically lost. 

The search, therefore, came to a standstill until about two years 
ago, when it was decided to make one more attempt to identify 
positively the father of the immigrant. The services of Mr. Charles 
A. Bernau of London were obtained, and he was furnished with all 
the material at hand. 

Mr. Bernau began his search with the Lay Subsidy Rolls in the 
Public Record Office in London, and there discovered that the sur¬ 
name of the Sawbridgeworth .branch of the Belknap family was 
sometimes Bel toft or Beltofte. With this fact in mind, it was easy 
to find in the probate records the missing will of Bennet Beltoft, 
the father of Abraham Belknap. It had been proved 15 June 1624 
by his widow Grace and his son Josias in the Commissary Court of 



4 


London for Essex and Herts, and was entered in the Probate Act 
Book for 1623-1626 under the name Bellcnajip , while it appeared 
in the Calendars of Wills under the name Beltoft , which is the 
form used in the will. 

These facts were brought to the attention of the authorities at 
Somerset House, and both in the Calendars and in the Probate Act 
Book the entry has been made to read "Belknap otherwise Beltoft.”* 

In this number of the Register and in the issue for April 
some English records relating to the family of Belknap alias Beltoft 
will be given, and these will be followed by a pedigree showing the 
ancestry of the American immigrant.! 

The papers immediately following are preserved in the Public 
Record Office, London,* and relate to a case in Chancery, begun 
not later than 1549, in which Richard Beltoft, grandfather of the 
New England settler, Abraham Belknap, wasi complainant. Of 
the documents in this case apparently only the depositions of the 
witnesses for the defendant are missing. These records are printed 
here in full. The exact relationship of Richard Beltoft, the com¬ 
plainant, to the brothers John and Edmond Beltoft who are men¬ 
tioned in this case has not yet been proved; but it is believed that 
a Henry Beltofte, who was buried at Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, 

5 July 1561, was a brother of John and Edmond Beltoft, and that 
the complainant Richard was a son of this Henry. 

From Chancery Proceedings 

Too the right honable Sir Richard Roche knyght lord Ryche & Lord 
Chancelor of England. 

Most humble wyse shewyth & compleyneth unto your good lordship your 
pore Orator & dayly bedman Richard Beltoft of Sabycheffworth within the 
County of Hertford that where one John Beltoft late of Sawbycheffworth 
aforesaid deceased was lawfullye seased in hys demane as of fee by good 

6 just tyle & lawfull conveyance in the law of & in one tent. w fc a garden 
& 2 acres of arable land or thereabouts ther unto belonging called Currants 
sett lieing & being yn Sawbrycheworth aforesaid & he soo beyinge thereof 
seased a 5 yeres past or thereabouts by his dede suffycyent in the lawe gave 
& granted the said tent. & other the p’mysses w l all & singular their 
app’tynces to one Henry Chauncey & others to have to them & their lieires 
to the use & behoofe of one Margaret Beltoft then his wyff for terme of* 
20 yeres yf she soe long doe lyve the remavnder thereof to your seyd 
Orator & to his heyres for ever & to execute the seyd estate of the p’mysses 
made a letter of attorney to one Robert Chauncy gentleman who delivered 
seisin of the p’mysses to the seyd Margaret & to your seyd besecher ac- 
cordinglye and delyvered to the said Margaret the said dede with the seyd 
Ire of attorney to kepe to the use aforesaid by force whereof & by force of 

* Alternative surnames are said to have been somewhat uncommon in England 
although much used in the Channel Islands. It is interesting to find in Wrio-ht’s* 
Dictionary of Dialect that the termination “-toft” signifies, among other meanings 
“ a low hill,” while “-knap ” has “ a small hill ” as one of its meanings. 

t Other records concerning various Beltofts of the later Middle Ages have been 
collected; but as no connection between these earlier Beltofts and the Sawbrido-eworth 
family has been proved, they are not reproduced here. 


5 


the statute made for the extingingment of uses & wylls the seyd Margaret 
was possessed of the terme aforesaid the remainder thereof yn your seyd 
besecher hys heyres & after the sayd Margaret dyed after whose deathe 
your seyd besecher entred the p’mysses & thereof was seased in his demeane 
as of fee by force of the gyft aforesaid. So it yor reight Honable Lord that 
after the death of the said Margaret the seyd dede & lere of attorney 
casuallye came to the hands & possession of one Thomas Westwood of 
Maudlyi* with in the Countie of Essex who by color of the above thereof 
hath wrongfully entryed ynto the p’mysses & thereof expulsed & putt out 
ye seid Orator & will not suffer hym to occupye and enjoye the p'mysses 
as of right he ought to doo of whom albeyt your seyd Orator have divers 
& sundrie tymes required the delyverey yet them to delylver he hath all- 
weys refused & yet doth contry to all right & good conceynce. And for 
as much as your seyd Orator knoweth nott the date of them nor whether 
they be conteyned in bag box chest locked or otherwyse your seyd Orator 
ys with out remedye for the obteynyng of them by the order of the common 
lawe. And so lykely to be dysherited &■ undon for ever unlesse your lord- 
shippe favor be to hym shewed in that belialfe. In consideracon whereof 
ytt may therefore please your good Lordshippe the premisses considered to 
grant the Kyngs most graycious writt of subpena to be dyrected to the seyd 
Thomas Westwood commanding hym by virtue thereof p’sonally to appeare 
before your good Lordshippe in the Kyngs moste high Courte of Chauncery 
att a certen day & under a certen payne therein by your good Lordshippe 
to be lymited then & there to answer to the p’mysses & further to stand & 
abyde suche order & direction therein as by your good Lordshippe slial be 
thought convenyent & your seyd Orator shalle daily pray unto God for the 
' p’suacyon of your good Lordshippe long in honor to contynewe. 

The answer of Thomas Westwood to the bill of Complaynt of Richard 
Beltofte. 

The said defendant saith that the said bill of complaint ys untrue un- 
certen & insufficient in the lawe to be unanswered unto & the matter 
therein conteyned untruly imagyned & devysed to put the deft to wrong- 
full vexacon cost & expences & the matter determynable at the com¬ 
mon law where unto he prayeth to be remytted Neverthelesse the ad¬ 
vantage of the insufficiency of the seyd bill to him at all tymes saved for 
declaration of the truthe of the matter & for answer saith that true yt 
ys that the sayd John Beltofte in the said bill of complaint menconed wasse 
seased of & in the tenement & other the p’mysses in the bill of complaynt 
especyfied in his demean as of fee & being soe seised about the 26 yere of 
the Raigne of the late King of famious memory Kinge Henry VITI infeffed 
thereof John Payne the elder & George Mathewe to have & holde the said 
p’mysses to them & to there heyres to the use of the said John Beltoft for 
the tearme of his lyfe & after his decesse to the use of one Margaret wyfe 
of the said John Beltofte & of her heyres by force whereof the said John 
Beltoft wasse thereof sead in his demean as of freehold the remaynder 
thereof to the said Margaret to her heires in fee & the said John Beltoft 
dved after whose death the same Margaret entred into the p’mysses & 
wasse thereof seased in her demeane as of fee & so being of the p’mysses 
seised take to husband the said defendant by force whereof the said deft & 
Margaret in the right of the said Margaret were of the p’mysses seased in 
there demeane as of fee & so being thereof seased they had issue betweene 
them one Thomas Westwood yett lyvinge & the said Margaret dyed after 


6 


whose death the said deft held hym the said p’misses tenant by the curtesey 
of England & ys thereof seased in his demean as of freeholde the reversion 
thereof to the said Thomas the son being of the age of 3 yeres or there¬ 
abouts & prayeth in ayde of hym & for that the said Thomas the sonne ys 
within age the said deft prayeth that the poll may demurre & saith that 
dyvers evidence consuynge the said p’misses been in his hands custoyde & 
possession which he deteyneth in his hands custodye & possession for the 
p’suscon of hys estate & the interest of the said Thomas his sonne as law- 
full ys for hym to do without that that the said John Beltoft infeffyed of the 
said p’mysses the said Henry Chauncye other in fee to theuse & behofe of 
the said Margaret for terme of yeres & after to the use of the compleyant 
& his heires in manner & forme as by the said bill of complaynte ys un¬ 
truly allegyd. And without that that there was any other matter or thinge 
mencoyned or conteyned in the sayd bill of complevnt matterill or effectuall 
to be answered unto & in this answer not being confessed & avoyded 
denyed or traversed ys true all which matters the said defendant ys ready 
to averre & p’ve as this honable Courte shall awarde & prayeth to be dis- 
myssed with his reasonable costs and charges by him susteyned in this 
behalfe. (Early Chancery Proceedings, uncalendared, 1194.) 

Interogatories for Wytnes to be examyned on the parte and behalfe of 
Richarde Beltofte ageynst Thomas Westwoode. 

1. Imprimes whether that one John Beltofte weare ever seased of and in 
one Tenement withe a garden plotte and ij acres of arable lande called 
Currants sett lienge and beinge in Sabricheworthe within the Countye 
of Hertforde yf he weare of whate estate and howe longe yt is syns. 

2. Item yf he weare seased of the premisses whether he gave and 
graunted the seyd tenement and other the premisses with all and 
singuler the appurtenances to one Ilenrie Chauncerie and other yf he 
dyd whether yt weare by deade or with owte deade yf yt weare by 
deade whoo wrote the deade And what weare the contents thereof 
And to what use And whether livery and season weare made Accord¬ 
ingly yf yt weare what daye yf theare weare livery and season howe 
longe yt is sins and whoo weare present at the livery And uppon what 
parcell of the grownde livery was made And by whome yt was made 
and whoo Receyved yt and by what Authority. 

3. Item to whome the deade was delivered and in whoose presens. Item 
what the seyd tenement and other the premisses arre worthe by the 
yeare over all chargis. 

4. Item howe longe the seyd Westwood bathe occupied the premisses 
and by what tytill. 

Ex parte Ric. Beltofte versus Thomas Westwoode. 

Michaell Waller of Sabridgeford [*tc] in the Countie of Hertf. laborer 
of the age of xxxj years or more sworne and examyned the xxiijth day of 
October in the thyrd yere of the reigne of our soveraigne lorde Edward the 
sixt [1349] saiethe and deposeth by virtue of his othe that as by the report 
of one John Beltofte late of Sabridgeworth nowe decessed and other ancient 
men he doth know that the same John Beltofte was seasyd in fee symple 
of and in one tenement with a garden plotte and two acres of arrable lande 
called Currants sett lyeinge and being in Sabridgewortli aforsaid in the said 
Countie of Hertf. and he was so seasyd he saieth at Christmas last past 
was foure yeres And he further saieth that aboute a senight before or 


7 


after Candelmas was foure yeres the said John Beltofte being so seasyd of 
the premisses gave and grauntyd the said tenement and other the premisses 
with all and singuler the appurtenances to one Henry Chauncye and other 
by deade whiche was written by one Robert Chauncye and the contents of 
the said deade were that the said Henry Chancey and his feoffes shuld 
have the premisses to them and their heyres to the use of Margaret the 
wief of the said John Beltofte nowe decessed for time of xx yeres if she 
lyved so longe and after her deathe if she died within the same xx yeres 
and also if she lyved tyll the determynacion of the said xx yeares that they 
and theyr heyres shuld have the premisses to the use of the said Richard 
Beltofte [tom, ? and to the heirs of his body] lawfully begotten and after 
his deathe for lacke of suche issue to the use of Edmonde Beltofte his 
brother and his heyres for ever whiche he saiethe he knoweth to be true by 
reason he was present at the sealing and delyvery of the said deade and 
heard it reade before the sealing therof twysse at the later tyme of reading 
wherof he saieth it was reade before the said John Beltofte and he was 
also present when lyvery and seasyn were made accordingly and then he 
hard readde agayne but what day of the yere lyvery and seasyn were made 
he remembreth not but remembreth that it was within a senight before or 
after Candelmas was foure yeres then being present Robert Chauncye John 
Gallowewaye William Dyar John Hongston and John Tredegold and lyvery 
he saieth was made at the said tenement called Curraunts by the sayd 
Robert Chauncy by the delyvery of the saide deade and the ringe of the 
door [one word illegible , Frapper] with a pece of earthe of the same soile 
with a sticke put therin unto the said Margaret Beltofte and the said 
Richard Beltofte according to the effecte of the said deade and the said 
tenement and other the premisses he saieth was let unto this deponent for 
xvj s. by yere but what is payed unto the chief lorde he saieth he knoweth 
not And the said Thomas Westwood hathe occupyed the premisses he 
saieth eversyth seynt James tyde last was a twelmoneth but by what title 
he saieth he knoweth not nor sayeth any more or otherwise deposseth, 

[Signed] Michaell Waller. 

John Hongston of Sabridgeworthe in the said Countie of Hertf. Tanner 
of the age of xxxix yeres or therabouts sworan and examyned the daye and 
yere abovesaid saieth and disposeth by virtue of his othe that he dothe 
know that one John Beltofte was seasyd of and in one tenement with a garden 
plotte and two acres of arrable lande called Curraunts sett being and being 
in Sabridgeworthe within the said Countie of Hertf. of estate to gyve or to 
sell for he saieth he knoweth hym to take the profitts therof to his owne 
use as owner therof and at Christmas was foure yeres he saieth the said 
John Beltofte was so seasyd of the premisses and he being so seasyd to 
his remembrance he saieth aboute Candelmas was foure yeres gave and 
graunted the said tenement and other the premisses withe all and singuler 
th’appurtenences to one Henry Chauncye or Robert Chauncye and other 
by deade whiche he saieth was wrytten ether by the said Henry or Robert 
Chauncy and the contents and use of the same deade he saieth was that 
Margaret the wief of the said John Beltofte shuld have the premisses for 
term of xx yeres if she lyved so longe and after that that the said Richard 
Beltofte shuld have the same to hym and the heyres of his body lawfully 
begotten and for lacke of soche issue that one Edmonde Beltofte the 
brother of the said John Beltofte should have the same but what estate he 
shuld have therein he remembreth not which things or [one word illegible'] 


8 


he knoweth to be true by reason that he was present at the estate made 
and there hard the deade redde by the said Robert Chauncy then being 
present one Rauff Roke Michaell Waller John Tredgold John Galloway 
William Dyer and Edmonde Beltofte but [ torn , about Jive words missing~\ 
he remembreth not and the estate he saieth was made at the said tenement 
called Curraunts by the said Robert Chauncy and the said Margaret and 
Richard Beltofte receavyed the same at his hands by delyvery of the ring 
of the door with the said dead and a clot of earthe and then put them into 
the house first the said Margaret and then the said Richard Beltofte but by 
what authority the said Robert Chauncy so did he saieth he knoweth not 
And he saiethe the said tenement and other the premisses be worthe xvij s. 
by the. year for this deponent hath gyven xiij s. iiij d. by the yere for the 
said tenement without the said ij acres whiche be worth ij s. an acre but 
what is payied oute of it to the cheaf lorde or lords he knoweth not nor re¬ 
membreth howe longe the said Westwood hath occupied the premisses nor 
yet knoweth by what tytle he hath occupied the same [? since] the deathe 
of the said Margaret but duryng her lyff he occupied the same as in her 
[several words illegible ] of the said graunte but more he knoweth not in 
this matter. [Here follows what is evidently meant for the mark of John 
Hongston, but it is not so described.] 

John Tredegold of Halyngbury Bowser in the Countie of Essex of the 
age of xl years sworne and examyned the daie and yere abovesaid saieth 
and disposeth by virtue of his othe that he doth know that one John Bel¬ 
tofte was seassyed in fee symple of and in one tenement with a garden 
plott and two acres of arrable land called Curraunts set being and being in 
Sabricheworthe within the Countie of Hertf. and he was therof so seassed 
at Christmas was foure years and then taketh the profits therof as owner 
of the same to his certeyn knowledge and he being so therof seasyd aboute 
Candelmas was foure yeres (what daye he remembreth not) did gyve and 
graunt the said tenement and other the premisses with all and singuler 
th’appurtenances to one Henry Chauncy and other by deade whiche was 
writtyn by one Robert Chauncye And the contents of the said deade he 
saieth was that the said Henry Chauncy and his feoffes shuld stond therof 
seasyd to them and their heires to the use of Margaret the wief of the said 
John Beltofte for the terme of xx years and after that to the use of the 
said Richard Beltofte and the heyres of his body lawfully begotten and for 
lacke of suche yssue to the use of one Edmonde Beltofte (the brother of 
the said John Beltofte) $nd his heires for ever whiche he saieth he knoweth 
to be true by reason he was in the house of the said John when the said 
deade was caryed in to hym to be sealyd and also was present when lyvery 
and season was made at the said tenement called Curraunts accordingly and 
there hard it redde by the said Robert Chauncey who made lyvery of tli’es- 
tate unto the said Margaret with the ryng of the dore of the said tenement 
and so they went into the house and as he supposeth they and Robert 
Chauncey so did by force of a letter of attorney to hym made by the said 
John Beltofte and then ther weare present he saieth Michaell Waller John 
Hongston William Dyar and John Galloway And he saieth the said tene¬ 
ment and other the premisses are worth xvj s. by the yere or theraboute 
above all charges and the said Westwood he saieth hath occupied the 
premisses by the space of thies three years and his wief died aboute seynt 
James tyde was a twelmoneth and till her death he occupied the same as 
in the right of the said Margaret his wief by force of the said \_one word 



9 


illegible, ? permit] but by what title he hath occupied it sithe he knoweth 
not nor can any further dispose. 

Robert Chaunsy of Wydford in the Countie of Essex Gent of the age of 
xxxiij yeres or more sworne and examyned the xxviijth daieof January in 
the fourth yere of the reigne of our said soveraigne lord kynge Edward the 
sixt [1549/50] saietli and deposseth by virue of his othe that he doth know 
that about vj yeres past one JohD Beltofte was seasyd in fee symple of and 
in one tenement with a garden plotte and ij acres of arrable land called 
Currauntes sett lying and being in Sabricheworthe within the Countie of 
Hertf. whiche he knoweth aswell by the [? sight] of the [ several words 
illegible ] therof in the lyff of the said John Beltoft as in that he knoweth 
hym take the rents issues and profetts therof quyetly as owner of the same 
And he also saieth that he is [one word illegible'] that the said John Beltoft 
gave and grauntyd the said tenement and other the premisses with all and 
singuler th’ appurtenances to one Henry Chauncye the brother of this de¬ 
ponent Robert Goodaye and other to [? have] to them and their hey res to 
the use and behouff of Anne [sic] his wiff for terme of xx yeres if she 
should so long lyve and if she died within the terme of xx yeres then to 
the use and behouff of Richard Beltofte Complaynant and his lieyres and 
assigns for ever whiche he saieth he knoweth to be true by reason that he 
the same deponent at the request and desire of the said John Beltofte did 
upon the sight of the said deade [one word illegible] penne and engrosse 
the same feoffem according to the devise of the said John Beltofte together 
with a letter of attorney therin conteyned made unto this deponent to make 
lyvery and seysyn according to the said deade of feoffem wherupon he 
saieth that after the said John Beltofte had sealed and delyvered the saide 
deade of feoffem as his deade unto this deponent in the presence of Edmunde 
Beltofte his brother Mychael Waller and other whose names he remem- 
breth not he the same deponent with other went to the said tenement and 
there he redde the said feoffem with the letter of attorney and then avoyded 
all [one word illegible] peasably onto [one word illegible] the house and 
therupon by the delyvery of the said deade with the ryng of the dore made 
lyvery and seasyn therof according to the tenor and effect of the said 
deade unto one of the feoffes mennconyd in the said deade but to which of 
them he now remembreth not he went into a feld called Heydon to one of 
the said ij acres and after that there cut uppe a peace of earthe and de¬ 
lyvered it with a sticke unto the hands of the same feoffe then being present 
the said Mychaell Waller tenant therof who then gave a peny to the 
said feoffe and [one word illegible, ? attorned] tenant to the same feoffes 
and they gave a peny unto the said Richard Beltofte and attorned tenant 
to hym also. John Treadegold John Hongston and other whose names he 
remembreth not. And after the lyvery and seyson so executyd this de¬ 
ponent with other returned agayne unto the said John Beltofte and there 
before hym and the said Edmunde Beltofte he declaryd what he had done 
wherwithall the said John Beltofte was well pleasyd and declaryd hymseltf 
to the said Edmunde Beltofte his brother what he had done in the premisse/ 
and therupon in the sight of the said John and Edmunde Beltofte and till 
said Anne [sic] ther was a chest brought to this deponent wherynto he pi* 
the said feoffement and the said Anne [sic] receyved it at the hands Af 
this deponent but what the premisses be worth by the yere he knoweth not 
otherwise than by report by whiche report he saieth it is worth xiif s. 
iiij d. by the yere and the said Anne- [sic] he saieth died aboute S<#nt 
James tyde was a twelmoneth and the said Westwood occupieth /the 


10 


premisses by force of an other deade as it is reported made by the said John 
Beltofte about a twelmoneth after the making of the said feoffement but 
more or otherwise he saith he cannot deposse. per me Robrtum Chauncy. 
(Town Depositions, 3 Edward VI [1549], Michaelmas Term, Bundle 
17/2.) 

Memorand. that in the Terme of Ester that is to saie the xxiiijth day 
of Apriell the fyveth yere of the reign of our soveraign lord Edwarde the 
sixt [1551] by the grace of god kyng of England Fraunce and Ireland 
defendor of the faith and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in 
earth the supreme hedd upon matter in variaunce longe tyme dependyng 
before the kyng in his high court of Chauncerie betweene Richard Beltoft 
of Sabridgworth in the countie of Hertf. playntyf and Thomas Westwood 
of Mawelynlawffer in the countie of Essex husbandman defendaunt of 
and for one Tenement with a garden and two acres of arrable land or 
therabowte therunto belongyng called Curraunts sett lying and beyng in 
Sabridgworth aforsaid Wherunto the said defend, made Answer and the 
playntyf replied and were at a perfict yssue And Wytnes brought in to the 
said Court on both parties and the said matier and the circumstaunces of 
the same beyng in the said Court of Chauncery often tymes sene redde 
and fully understaude for a quyetnes to be had betwene the said parties 
It is by the right honorable Sir Richard Riche knyght lorde Riche and lord 
Chauncellour of Englande and the hole Courte of Chauncery by the 
mutuall assentes full agreament and consentes of both the said parties 
ordered adiudged and decreed that the said Thomas Westwood shall haue 
hold an inioye the said tenement and garden and two acres of land with 
the appurtenences in Sabridgworth aforsaid to hym and to his heyres of 
Margarett his late wife for ever more With oute any lett ympedyment or 
molestacion of the said Rychard Beltoft or of his heyres or of any other 
by his payement And also it is further ordered adiudged and decreed by 
the said lorde Chauncellor and Court of Chauncery by the assentes aforsaid 
that the said Rychard Beltoft and his heyres shall at all tymes do and 
suffer to be don all and every thing and thinges for the further assuraunce 
of the premisses to the said Thomas Westwood and his heyres as shalbe 
reasonably devysed by the Councell learned in the lawe of the said Thomas 
Westwood and his heires a thisside the Feaste of the Natyvite of our 
lorde God next ensuyng the date of this decree at the costes and chardges 
in the lawe of the said defendaunt be it by fyne feoffament release with 
warrauntie ageynst the said Richard Beltoft and his heyres or otherwise 
In consideration wherof it is further decreed that the said Thomas West- 
wood and his heires shall pay or cause to be paied to the said Richard 
Beltoft his executours or assignes six pound of lawfull money of England 
in maner and forme followyng that is to say three pounds vi s. eight pence 
at the consignment of this decree and at the feast of the nattivte of oure 
lord next comyng in the parishe church of Sabridgeworth aforsaid three 
and fyftie shillins foure pence residew of the same some of six poundes in 
full contentacion and payment of the said some of six poundes. (Enrolled 
Decrees, Chancery, No. 8/28.) 

The Will of Richarde Beltofte “of the pishe of Sabridgeworth in 
the Countie of Hartford Ilusbandeman beinge sick in Bodie ... by 
leason of age,” 20 August 1594. To bee buryed in the Churcheyarde of 
tie pishe Church of Sabridgeworthe. To Tenne poore Folcks inhabytinge 
in the pishe of Sabridgeworth Tenne Groats sterlinge, that is to saye, to 


11 


everye one of them foure pence apeece att the daye of my buryall. To 
Clement Sutton, Willm: Sutton, and Richard Sutton, my Sisters sonnes, 
dwellinge in Docksall in the County e of Essex, 10s., that is to saye, to 
everye of them 3s. 4d. apeece, wthin sixe monethes next after my decease. 
“ Item I Geve to Abraham Beltofte sonne to Bennett Beltoft my God- 
childe Tenne shillings to be paide him wthin one yeere next after my de¬ 
cease.” To Josias Beltofte my Sonne my Best Bedd standinge in the 
Parler, with the Bedsteade as it is, a payer of my best Fyne Flaxen Sheets, 
the inoste principall Sheets I have in the Howse, the Best Coveringe, a 
payer of the Best Blancketts, the Best Pillowes, and other furniture to the 
same Bedd belonginge, to his owne proper use and bestowe att his free will 
and pleasure. To the said Josias the Table and Frame withe the Settle 
standinge in the Hall. To the saidd Josias my Sonne my Best Brasse Panne 
and my Best Brasse Pott I have in the Howse, to use and dispose att his 
pleasure, wth Two Chests as they are standinge in the Parler out [sic, 
? one] att the Bedds Hedd and th’other att the Bedds Feete. My full pur¬ 
pose mynde and intent is That all and singuler suche Goods Chattells 
moveables and possessions whatsoever, That is to saye, all manner Come 
and graine, Horsses, kyne, Cattells, Househouldstuffe, ymplements, uten- 
sills, apparell, Lynnen, wollen, and other possessions and necessaries what¬ 
soever to me Lawfullie belonginge and whereof I shalbee possessed att the 
tyme of my deathe, The goods and severall bequests first afore geven and 
by this my present Laste will devised onlie excepted, shalbee by myne 
Executor and Overseers hereunder named, wth some other neighbors and 
assistants whome they shall thinck good, devided into Two equall pts and 
porcions as nere as possiblie canne, the one proper pte and porcion to bee 
and remayne to the sole and onlie proper use and behouft of Josias Beltoft 
my sonne, the said Josias after the same equall pticion and devision to 
have f[r]ee libertie to choose whether pte he will or his assignes for him, 
and th’other pte and porcion to bee and remayne to Bennett Beltoft my 
Sonne, whom I make and Ordeyne sole Executor of this psent Last will 
and Testament. Overseers: Christopher Preston and Willm: Perrye of 
Fryers, and to eyther of them for their paynes 3s. 4d. a peece. If Josias 
my Sonne shall decease before the tyme of this pte to him growinge due, 
the same shall wholye bee & Remayne to the afrenamed Bennett Beltoft 
& his heirs for ever. The mke of the saide Richard Beltoft the Testator, 
p. me Willmum Compton. Witnesses : Richard Darter wth others, Raufe 
Broune, Raufe Perie, John Smyth. (Commissary Court of London for 
Essex and Herts [Somerset House], original will.) 

The Will of Josias Belknap “of the pshe of Sabridgouth Co. Har¬ 
ford,” 28 January 1599 [1599/1600]. Unto my Brother Bennet Belk- 
nappe my landes & £20 of money, whereof he oweth me £6 for three 
yeares rent for my landes, & he oweth me more for one yeare, £5:6:8, & 
I lent him £7 the 25th. Januaire, & I give him those goodes & legacies 
well my fath r left me & the lynnen & househoulde stuffe wch he hath of 
myne in his keepinge & all my apparell but one black suite & one black 
cloke. To my cousin John Brown in Southwark £20, & to Jone his wyfe 
20 nobles, & 1 give him my white coton & all suche lynnen as I have in 
his house & one suite of blacke & one black cloke & one Bonde of Daell 
[? Daniel] Sheltons to the some of £10 & one Bill of William Shelton to 
the some of £10 & all my small Billes & Bondes & all such dettes as may 
be gott upp in Ireland. To his servaunte Annie 20s. To the Poore of 
Sebridgeouth 40s. There is due me uppon a certaine accomptes £40, that 


12 


being received I give to my broth 1 Ralfe Browne £5, to my Brother 
Hobart £5, & to my cosen John £10 more, & to the Poore where I shalbe 
buried 20s., & 40s. more to the Poore in Sabridgeouth pshe, & to my sister 
Marye Browne widowe £5, & to Mrs. ffraunces Shelton fower aungells to 
make her a Ringe, & the rest to my Brother Bennett Belknappe, whom I 
make full extr & my cosen John Browne my Overseer. Witnesses: 
ffraunces Hadswells, Josias Belknappe, John Lawlye. Proved 6 February 
1599 [1599/1600] by Benedict Belknappe, executor. (P. C. C., Wal- 
lopp, 10.) 

The Will of Bennet Beltoft “ of Sabridgeworth in the Countie of 
Hartford husbandman,” 14 April 1623. Unto Tenn poore people of the 
pishe of Sabridgworth 3s. 4d., to be paid unto them wthin one month 
after my decease. Unto Grace my wife my Messuage or Tenement wheare 
in I now dwell, wthall the barnes, stables, & oughthowses, yards, orchards, 
& gardens theare unto belonginge, Lyinge & beinge in Sabridgworth, and 
allso all my free Land Lyinge in Sabridgworth, duringe hur natural lyfe, 
& to keepe my Howsen in good & suffycient repracon, & that she shall 
make no stripe nor waste of the wood, And after hur decease my sayd 
Tenement, wthall the barnes, stables, oughthowses, yards, orchards, & 
gardens theare unto belonginge, and all so all my free Land aforesaid, I 
give & bequeathe unto Josyas Beltoft my sonn And to the heires of his 
Body Lawfully begotten, “ and for want of heires of his body lawfully be¬ 
gotten then my will & mynd is that the foresaid Tenement & free Land 
shall be & remayne unto Abraham Beltoft my sonn & his heires for ever.” 
Unto Fraunces Beltofte my daughter my Joyned Bedsted now standinge in 
the parler, wth one fetherbed, one fether boulster, two fether pillowes, 
two blanckets, two payer of sheetes, one flexen & the other Lenen [?], one 
payer of pilloweres, & a coveringe, one Longe Table wth a frame standing 
in the parler, Two of the best Joyned stolles, my Beste brasse pott, two of 
the best pewter platteres, two of the best Candelstickes, Two of the best 
pewter porringers, & the best sault siller. Unto John Beltoft my sonn one 
bedstedell standinge in the Cheseloft, one flockbed, one boulster, one payer 
of sheets, one [tom, ? blanket], & a coveringe. Unto Dannill Beltoft my 
sonn one Bedsted standinge in the Chamber ou [torn] the hall & the fether¬ 
bed theare on, one boulster, the best flexen sheete that was his grand- 
motheres, one payer of sheets, one blancket, & one coveringe. “ Item I 
give & bequeathe unto Abraham Beltofte my son twentye shillinges of good 
& Lawfully mony of England to be payd unto him by myne Executors 
wthin one yeare next after my decease Item I give & bequeathe unto 
Abraham Beltoft my Grand Child & godsonn Tenn shillinges of good & 
Lawfull mony of England to be payd within one yeare next after my de¬ 
cease by myne Executors.” Unto Josyas Beltoft my sonn the table & 
frame standinge in the hall, wth the frame benchees & settelles theare 
unto belongeinge, all wayes to beloft [?] to the liowse. All the rest of mv 
movable goods & chattolles, corne, & Cattell, what so ever not before be¬ 
queathed, unto Grace my wife & Josyas Beltofte my sonn, whome I make 
my Executors. I appoynt Willm: Preston and Willm: Addam my ouer- 
seeares, & I give unto eyther of them for theare paynes 3s. 4d. apeece. 
The marke of Bennet Beltofte. Witnesses: Willm : Preston, The marke 
of Raphe Browne see r , The mark of Willm : Addam. Proved at Stortford 
15 June 1624 by the executors named.* (Commissary Court of London 
for Essex and Herts [Somerset House], original will.) 

* Vide supra, p. 83. 





13 


The Will of Josias Belknap of Sabridgeworth, co. Herts, 29 March 1674. 
To Anne my wife my house & two acres of free land called Rickotte & two 
acres of free land called Church Croft & my householde stuffe for her life, 
then to my son Dan 1 Belknap & his heires for ever. If he dye without issue, 
then to my son James & his heires for ever. To James Belknap my third 
son * £11, my son Daniel to pay him six months after my decease, & for none 
payment hereof my son James shall take possession of three roodes of free 
land lying in Hartecroft belonging to Groves. To my son John Belknap 10s. 
To my son-in-law Thomas Browne Is. Anne my wife to be sole executnx. 
The Marke X of Josias Belknap. Witnesses: Robert Cowle, Barrington 
Addames senr. Proved 12 June 1674 by the executrix named. (Commissary 
Court of London for Essex and Herts [Somerset House], Pleasant, 354.) 

The Will of Dan l Belknap of Spelbrooke in the pshe of Sabridgeworth, 
co. Herts, Yeoman, 23 August 1680. Unto my two Brothers, John Belknap 
& James Belknap, 12d. a piece. To Mary my wife my two acres of land in 
a comon field called Westley, in the parish of Sabridgeworth, to her & her 
heires for ever. Residue to Mary my wife, she to be sole executrix. The 
mke of Dan 1 Belknap. Witnesses: James Kirby, John Robbards, Edward 
Lyndsell, Thomas Barnard. Proved 10 December 1680 by the executrix 
named. (Commissary Court of London for Essex and Herts [Somerset 
House], Heydon, 473.) 

The Will of Henry Belnap of the parish of Sabridgeworth, co. Hertford, 
Yeoman, 10 April 1686. To Mary my now wife one featherbed, boulster, 
pillow, coverlett, two blanketts, two pair of sheets, one great bedsted, & one 
joynted cupboard standinge next the doore in the parlour, & the bed & 
trundle bed in the same roome, two hutches in the chamber over the kitchin, 
a little table standing in the chamber over the parlour, one hogshed, a frying 
pan, & the warming pan. To Elizabeth my daughter the bed, bolster, & 
bedstead standing in the chamber over the kitchin, & the furniture belonging 
to it. To James my sonne the bed, bolster, & bedsted which he lyeth upon 
standing in the chamber over the Hall, & the furniture belonging to it. All 
my linnen except the two prs of sheetes & all my pewter & brasse to be 
equally divided between my extrs, my children. Residue to my extrs to be 
sold to pay my debts, the remainder to be divided amongst my executors & 
children. I ordaine Mary my wife executrix & James my sonne executor. 
I give two pewter dishes to my sonne-in-lawe Edward Dowsett. [Signed] 
Henry Belnap. Witnesses: Geo. Wright, John Johnson [mark], Edward 
Sibley. Proved 19 October 1686 by the executors named. (Commissary 
Court of London for Essex and Herts [Somerset House], Hamor, 82.) 

From the Parish Registers of Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, 1558-1709 

Baptisms 

1561 Alice Beltoft daughter of Richard 16 September. 

1562 Josias son of Richard Beltoft 6 September. 

1589 Abraham Beltofte 10 March [1589/90]. 

1590 Frances daughter of Benet Beltofte 3 January [1590/1]. 

1593 John Beltofte 8 April. 

1595 Daniel son of Benet Beltoft 2 November. 

1599 Josias son of Benet Beltofte 12 August. 

1630 Grace daughter of John and Elizabeth Belknap 10 July. 

1631 John son of John Belknope 25 September. 

1632 Josias son of Josias and Anne Belknap 4 August. 

1633 Elizabeth daughter of John and Elizabeth Belknop 31 March. 

* The eldest son, Josias, was already dead. 




14 


1634 Mary daughter of Josias Belknapp 4 May. 

1634 Daniell Beltknopp son of Daniel and Barberie his wife 5 October. 

1635 Daniell son of Josias Belknap 17 January [1635/6]. 

1637 John son of Josias Belknap 28 January [1637/8]. 

1640 James son of Josias Belknape 29 March. 

1641 Grace daughter of Josias Belknape 12 February [1641/2]. 

1664 Henery son of Henery Beltknap 7 May. 

1665 Elizabeth daughter of Henry Beltknap 30 December. 

1667 James son of Henery and Mary Beltknap 28 September. 

1668 Daniell son of Henry Beltknap 17 March [1668/9]. 

1670 Mary daughter of Henery Beltknap 1 April. 

1673 Samuel son of Henery Beltknap 22 July. 

1674 Benett son of Henery Beltknap 2 February [1674/5], 

1675 Daniel son of James and Susan Beltknape 19 June. 

1679 Abraham son of Henry and Mary Belknap 24 January [1679/80]. 

1681 Mary daughter of Henry and Mary Belknap als Beltoft 11 October. 

1682 Susan daughter of James and Susanna Belknap 24 December. 

Marriages 

1562 William Stubbs and Alice Beltoft 14 April. 

1578 Edward Lyndesell and Ales Beltoft 5 October. 

1586 Bennet Beltoft and Grace Adam 25 May. 

1624 Edward Doucet and Frances Belknap 19 October. 

1631 Josias Belkap and Anne Milles 2 May. 

1666 Henery Beltknap and Mary Pery by licence 19 June. 

1708 James Hockley and Susanna Belknap 26 October. 

1709 John Chesson of Harlow and Susanna Belknap 8 May. 

Marriage Licence 

1666 Samuell Bellknapp and Elizabeth Nicholls 18 February [1666/7]. 

Burials 

1560 Elizabeth Beltofte [? wife of Henry] 14 January [1560/1]. 

1561 Henry Beltofte 5 July. 

1588 the wife of Richard Beltoft 17 January [1588/9]. 

1599 Richard Beltoft 2 December. 

1624 Bennet Belknap 21 May. 

1630 Grace Belkap 29 October. 

1637 John son of John Belknapp 22 October. 

1655 John Beltrap 19 October. 

1656 Josias son of Josias Beltknape 13 July. 

1663 a new borne Infant of Henery Beltoft 6 April. 

1663 Daniel Beltofte 5 June. 

1664*The wife of Henery Beltknapp 30 December. 

1674 Josias Beltknap 3 April. 

1678 Daniel Belknap of Spellbrooke [parish of Sawbridgeworth] son of James 
and Susannah 2 January [1678/9]. 

1678 Elizabeth Belknap widowe 7 February [1678/9]. 

1680 Daniel Belknap of Spelbrooke 2 September. 

1683 The widow of Josias Belknap 31 October. 

1686 Henry Belknap Jr. 9 April. 

1686 Henry Belknap Sr. 13 April. 

1687 Mary Belknap widow 18 November. 

1687 James Belknap 20 November. 

1688 Daniell Belknap 20 February [1688/9]. 

1695 A child of James Belknap 10 April. 

1704 Sarah Belknap 11 May. 

1704 Mary Belknap 13 August. 

* Probably an error for 1665. 



15 


From the Parish Registers of Netteswell, co. Essex 
Baptisms 

1637 Henrie Belknopp son of Daniel and Barberie 14 May. 

1639 Samuell Belknoppe son of Daniell and Barberie 3 February [1639/40]. 
1642 Barberie [? Belknopp] daughter of Daniell and Barberie 9 November. 

Burials 

1620 “Abra Bel. . . . f s. Abra et Mara” 6 December. 

1658 Daniell Belnap widr. 19 October. 

1704 Mary Belknap 8 January [1704/5]. 

From the Parish Registers of Gilston, co. Herts 

1661 Henry Belknapp and Elizabeth Dowsett married by licence 9 Decem¬ 
ber. 


[From the records given above and from other records preserved 
in New England the following genealogy has been prepared: 

1. -Beltoft. 

Children: 

i. John, of Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, d. abt. 1546, evidently s.p. 

In 26 Henry VIII (1534-5) he was seised of a house with a garden 
and two acres of arable land called “ Currants” in Sawbridgeworth. 

He m. not later than 26 Henry VIII (1534-5) Margaret-, 

whose maiden name was perhaps Payne or Mathewe. She sur¬ 
vived her husband and m. (2) abt. 1547 Thomas Westwood, who 
in 1550 was of “ Maudlyn ” (probably Magdalen Laver), co. Essex. 
She was dead in 1549/50, Thomas Westwood, her son by her second 
husband, being then abt. three years of age. 

ii. Edmond, living abt. 1546. 

2. iii. Henry (perhaps son of 1 and brother of the two preceding). 


2 . 


Henry Beltoft (perhaps son of 1 and brother of the John and 
Edmond mentioned above), of Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts 
(see Feet of Fines, Hilary term, 3 Elizabeth, 1560/1), was 
buried at Sawbridgeworth 5 July 1561. Elizabeth Beltoft, 
who was buried at Sawbridgeworth 14 Jan. 1560/1, may have 
been his wife. 

The following were probably his children: 


3. i. 
ii. 


Richard. 

Alice (Beltoft alias Belknap), perhaps m. (1) at Sawbridgeworth, 

14 Apr. 1562, William Stubbs; m. (perhaps 2)- Sutton. 

Children (surname Sutton ): 1. Clement. 2. William. 3. Richard. 
To each of these three sons the sum of 3s. 4d. was left by the will 
of their uncle, Richard Beltoft, in 1594 (vide supra, p. 91). 


3. Richard Beltoft alias Belknap (probably son of Henry), of 
Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, husbandman, was buried at 
Sawbridgeworth 2 Dec. 1599. His will, dated 20 Aug. 1594, 
seems to show that he held his land as a copyholder of the 
Manor and that in 1594 he had only two children living, of 
whom Bennet was probably the elder. He married Eliza¬ 
beth -, who was buried at Sawbridgeworth 17 Jan. 

1588/9. 

Children: 

4. i. Bennet. 








J 


16 


ii. Alice, bapt. at Sawbridgeworth 16 Sept. 1561; d., probably s.p., not 

later than 1594; m. 5 Oct. 1578 Edward Lyndesell, perhaps s. 

of Peter and Joan of Sawbridgeworth (see Feet of Fines in Herts 

Genealogist and Antiquary , vol. 3, p. 322, although, if the reference 

here is to the Alice of this pedigree, she did not die until after 1600). 

iii. Jo si as, of Sawbridgeworth, the testator of 1599/1600 ( vide supra, 

p. 91), bapt. at Sawbridgeworth 6 Sept. 1562; d. betw. 28 Jan. 
1599/1600 and 6 Feb. following, being evidently then a widower; 

m. probably - Brown, his will mentioning several of his 

wife's relatives. No records of any children have been found. . 

4. Bennet Beltoft alias Belknap {Richard, ? Henry), of Saw¬ 

bridgeworth, co. Herts, husbandman, the testator of 1623 
{vide supra, p. 92), was buried at Sawbridgeworth 21 May 
1624. He is mentioned in the will of his father Richard 
Beltoft {vide supra, pp. 90-91), being named as sole executor 
of that will, and in the will of his brother, Josias Belknap, 
28 Jan. 1599/1600 {vide supra, pp. 91-92); and he proved 
the latter will as executor, 6 Feb. 1599/1600. In 1605/6 he 
was assessed 2s. 8d. on 20s., in the lay subsidy for Saw¬ 
bridgeworth (Lay Subsidies, 121/302-3, James I, Public 
Record Office, London), and in 1610 as churchwarden he 
makes a letter “b” as his mark in the parish registers. He 
married at Sawbridgeworth, 25 May 1586, Grace Adam, 
who was buried at Sawbridgeworth 29 Oct. 1630, perhaps 
daughter of Peter and Elizabeth of Ware, this Peter being a 
“berebrewer,” whose will was proved at Stortford, co. Herts, 
12 Feb. 1571/2 {Herts Geneal. and Antiquary, vol. 1, p. 334). 

Children, baptized at Sawbridgeworth: 

5. i. Abraham, bapt. 10 Mar. 1589/90. 

ii. Frances, bapt. 3 Jan. 1590/1; m. at Sawbridgeworth, 19 Oct. 1624, 

Edward Doucet. She is mentioned in her father's will of 14 Apr. 

1623. 

iii. John, bapt. 8 Apr. 1593; bur. at Sawbridgeworth 19 Oct. 1655; m. 

Elizabeth -, who was bur. at Sawbridgeworth 7 Feb. 1678/9. 

Children, bapt. at Sawbridgeworth: 1. Grace, bapt. 10 July 1630. 

2. John , bapt. 25 Sept. 1631; bur. at Sawbridgeworth 22 Oct. 1637. 

3. Elizabeth , bapt. 31 Mar. 1633. 

6. iv. Daniel, bapt. 2 Nov. 1595. 

7. v. Josias, bapt. 12 Aug. 1599. 

5. Abraham Beltoft alias Belknap {Bennet, Richard , ? Henry), 

baptized at Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, 10 Mar. 1589/90, 
died at Lynn, Mass., early in Sept. 1643. The names of 
his parents are not given in the baptismal record; but his 
grandfather, Richard Beltoft, in his will of 20 Aug. 1594 
{vide supra, pp. 90-91), bequeaths 10s. to “ Abraham Beltofte 
sonne to Bennett Beltoft my Godchilde,” and he is also 
mentioned in his father’s will of 14 Apr. 1623 {vide supra, 

p. 92). He married, about 1620 or earlier, Mary - f 

who survived him and presented the inventory of his estate, 
which was taken 16 Feb. 1643/4. The record of this mar¬ 
riage has not been found, and the surname of his wife is un¬ 
known. His residence in England is also unknown, the only 
indication of it being the record, in the parish registers of 
Netteswell, co. Essex, of the burial, 6 Dec. 1620, of “Abra 





17 


Bel. . . . f s. Abra et Mara,” which seems to refer to an 
infant son of Abraham and Mary. 

With his wife Mary and his children, Abraham Belknap 
emigrated to New England (in what ship is unknown), 
probably about 1635. In 1638 he received a grant of 40 
acres of land at Lynn, Mass., his name appearing in the 
papers in the case of William Longley v. Henry Coliings and 
John Hathorne, in behalf of the town of Lyn, 26 Mar. 1661, 
among those who shared in the apportionment of land in 
1638. (Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex 
County, vol. 2, p. 270.) Among his neighbors at Lynn were 
Edmund Farrington, one of the creditors of his estate, who 
was from Olney, co. Bucks, and came to New England in 
the Hopewell, 1 Apr. 1635, and Francis Ingalls, whose daugh¬ 
ter married Joseph Belknap, Abraham’s son. The following 
record is found in Suffolk Deeds, Lib. 1, fo. 42: 

Adam Otley & Thomas Dexter of Linne granted vnto Richard 
Russell of Charlstowne thirty Sheepe & Lambs in the hands 
of goodman Belknap & James Axy of Linne w th 15 H bill due 
fro Adam Hawks, & three thousand of Clapbord bolts lyeing 
at my Ladie Moodies Beach in Linne to Richard Russell his 
heires executors administrators & Assignes, the aboue said some 
of fourescore & three pounds to be pd w th in 4 months after the 
date thereof & this was by a deed dated the 7° of April 164-3. 

2 Hands & seales. 

Acknowledged the 29° of y® 5° month 
1643 before Increase Nowell secret’. 

The will of Abraham Belknap, which was sworn to 20 
Feb. 1643/4, is unfortunately missing; but the inventory of 
his estate, beginning “The inventorie of Abraham Bellnap’s 
estate have deseisted the beginge of the 7th. mo. 1643 and 
now taken bie William Tillton & Edward Tomlins this 16. 
12 mo. 1643,” has been preserved, and a summary of it has 
been printed in Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts 
of Essex County, vol. 1, p. 60, note. His estate consisted 
of a house and 5 acres of land, 2 acres of planting land, 2 
acres of salt marsh, 6 acres of salt marsh at Fox Hill, and 30 
acres “at the village.” He also had a number of “shepe,” 
“cowes,” “gotes,” and “piges,” and the usual amount of 
household implements and furniture. There is a list of 
debts amounting to £5. 13s. 3d., the creditors being Joseph 
Armitage, Francis Ingalls, goodman Philips, Richard Routon, 
Thomas Laughton, Ed. Farington, Gerard Spencer, Mr. 
Hinge, and John Person. The net amount of the inventory 
was £47. 17s., and the mark of Mary his wife appears on the 
document. The Essex Antiquarian , vol. 2, p. 183, states that 
this inventory contains the first mention in Essex County 
of pot-hooks and hangers, brass pot and frying pans, spit and 
dripping pans. 

Children*: 

i. Abra[ham] (probably), bur. at Netteswell, co. Essex, 6 Dec. 1620. 

* There is no authority for including among the children of Abraham Belknap the 
immigrant, as some writers have done, a son Jeremiah or Jeremy and a daughter Marv. 


I 




18 


ii. Abraham, mentioned in the will of his grandfather, Bennet Beltoft, 

14 Apr. 1623 (vide supra, p. 92); probably d. young, although 
he may have come to New England with his parents. 

iii. Samuel, said to have been b. 1627/8 (but proof of this statement 

seems lacking); living 1731; m. bef. 1653 Sarah Jones, dau. of 
Robert and Elizabeth of Hingham. He may have been the Samuel 
Belknap who owned land at Easthampton, L.I., 5 July 1653 
(Records of Easthampton, vol. 2, pp. 159, 161); but if he went to 
Easthampton he evidently did not remain there, as he had a house 
in Salem in 1661, his land lying between the present Essex St., near 
the corner of Beckford St., and the North River.* On 20 Feb. 
1665 [1665/6] Samuel Belknap of Salem, joyner, with the consent 
of Sara his wife, in consideration of £3 conveys to Edward Gaskyn 
of Salem, ship carpenter, land contayning 10 Poale, 2 Poale broad 
next streets, to run backward north 5 Pole & south 5 Poale & in 
bredth 2 Pole in ye Towne of Salem, bounded with the streete, land 
of Philip Cromwell to ye east & the land of me ye sd. Samuell 
Belknap to ye north & west. (Essex Deeds, vol. 2, p. 117.) In 
1671 Samuell Belnap of Malden, joyner, and Joseph Belnap of 
Boston, glover, convey to Thomas Laughton, Sr., of Lynn their 
thirds in a “parcell of land .... part of an house lott formerly 
Abraham Rednap’s [sic] house lott, father to sd. Samuel and Joseph 
Rednap,” and to this deed Benjamin Rednap and Peter Brackett 
are witnesses. The clerk evidently wrote Rednap in two places 
instead of Belknap, the mistake being due probably to the appear¬ 
ance of the name of Benjamin Rednap among the witnesses. The 
Rednaps were neighbors of Abraham Belknap and came from 
London; and while there was a Joseph Rednap, son of the immigrant 
of that name, he is not to be confounded with Joseph Belknap, 
although some of his appearances before the Court for denying the 
lawfulness of infant baptism have been laid at the door of Joseph 
Belknap. Joseph Rednap married Sarah, dau. of Thomas Laugh¬ 
ton. Samuel Belknap’s next and apparently last move was to 
Haverhill, Mass., where he took the oath of allegiance 28 Nov. 1677, 
and in 1696 he conveyed land there to his sons Ebenezer and Abra¬ 
ham, one of the deeds being acknowledged by him as late as 31 
Aug. 1731. Seven children recorded, of whom the eldest, Mary, 
was b. 1653, and a son, Abraham, who was b. abt. 1660, was ancestor 
of many of the name in Framingham, Mass, 

iv. Joseph, said to have been born 1630 (but proof of this statement seems 
lacking); d. 14 Nov. 1712; bur. in King’s Chapel, Boston; m. (1) 
bef. 1657/8 Ruth Williams, b. 1638, dau. of Nathaniel and Mary 
of Boston; m. (2) bef. 1668 Lydia Ingalls, dau. of Francis and 
Mary of Lynn; m. (3) bef. 1670 Hannah Meakins, dau. of Thomas 
and Sarah of Hatfield, whom he survived. He was executor of 
the will of Richard Woodman of Lynn in 1647, was in Boston as 
early as 1658, when he was a member of the Ancient and Honorable 
Artillery Co., and was made a freeman in 1665. Three years later 
he was one of the founders of the Old South Church, and in that 
same year was dismissed to Hatfield. He bought land in Haver¬ 
hill in 1682, but it does not appear that he ever lived there. His 
will is dated 29 Nov. 1710 and was proved 5 Dec. 1712. At the 

* This house is mentioned in the Salem Commoners’ Records, 1713-1739: “Att a 
meeting of the Committee att the Ship Tavern In Salem the first Munday In December 
being the 7th. Day 1713 for to Receiue Claims to ye Comon Lands in Salem” there 
were present of the Committee Capt. Samuell Gardner, Capt. Thomas Flint, Capt. 
Walter Price, Capt. Jonathan Putnam, Capt. Peeter Osgood, Col. Samuell Browne, 
Esq., William Hirst, Esq., Josiah Woolcott, Esq., and Maj. Stephen Sewall, Esq., and 
it was ‘‘Agreed and Ordered that the Claims be Receiued of the Proprietors to the 
Comon Lands in the Towne of Salem And Entered In Two Distinct Colloums one 
Collum for the Cotteges that was Erected before the year 1661 and the other Collum 
for those Priuiledged by the Town Vote In 1702.” John Simpson presented a claim 
for Belknap’s house, which is mentioned also in ‘‘A list of the owners of houses built 
which fall under the law made 1660 which prohibits them from priveleges in Common 
lands,” dated 1669. 



19 


time of his death he was a resident of Boston. Twelve and possibly 
fifteen children, of whom four were by his first wife, one was by his 
second wife, and seven at least were by his third wife. 

v. John (perhaps a son of Abraham the immigrant), d. probably s.p. 

The only record of him is found in his deposition, sworn before Rob. 
Bridges 27 Mar. 1655 and presented at the Court held at Ipswich 
25 Mar. 1656, that the price of the oxen that William Robinson, in 
the name of Mr. Jeffard, bought of Fransis Inggales was 18 li. 
(Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, vol. 1, 
p. 417, note.) 

vi. Hannah, d. 21 Nov. 1679; m. 6 Dec. 1663 Christopher Osgood, 

b. 1643, s. of Christopher and Margery (Fowler) of Ipswich, who 
m. three times after Hannah’s death. Six children. 

6. Daniel Beltoft alias Belknap (. Bennet, Richard, ? Henry), 

baptized at Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, 2 Nov. 1595, was 
buried at Netteswell, co. Essex, 19 Oct. 1658. He is men¬ 
tioned in his father’s will of 14 Apr. 1623 (vide supra, p. 92), 
and in 1636/7, as Daniell Bellknapp of Netteswell, was 
assessed 5s. 6d. for ship money. (State Papers, Domestic, 
Charles I, vol. 358, in Public Record Office, London.) He 
married Barbara- , whom he survived. 

Children: 

i. Daniel, bapt. at Sawbridgeworth 5 Oct. 1634; bur. there 5 June 1663. 

ii. Henry, of Sawbridgeworth, yeoman, bapt. at Netteswell 14 May 1637; 

bur. at Sawbridgeworth 13 Apr. 1686; m. (1) at Gilston, co. Herts, 
9 Dec. 1661, Elizabeth Dowsett, probably a widow (with a son 
Edward), who was bur. at Sawbridgeworth 30 Dec. 1664 [sic, ? 1666]; 
m. (2) at Sawbridgeworth, 19 June 1666, Mary Pery, who survived 
him and was bur. at Sawbridgeworth 18 Nov. 1687. His will is 
dated 10 Apr. 1686 and was proved 19 Oct. 1686. ( Vide supra, 

p. 191.) Children by first wife: 1. A Child, d. soon after birth 
and bur. at Sawbridgeworth 6 Apr. 1663. 2. Henry, bapt. at 

Sawbridgeworth 7 May 1664; bur. there 9 Apr. 1686. 3. Elizabeth, 
bapt. at Sawbridgeworth 30 Deo. 1665. Children by second wife, 
bapt. at Sawbridgeworth: 4. James, bapt. 28 Sept. 1667; perhaps 
the person who was bur. at Sawbridgeworth 20 Nov. 1687. He is 
mentioned in his father’s will. A child of a James Belknap was bur. 
at Sawbridgeworth 10 Apr. 1695. 5. Daniel, bapt. 17 Mar. 1668/9; 
bur. at Sawbridgeworth 20 Feb. 1688/9. 6. Mary, bapt. 1 Apr. 1670; 
probably d. bef. 11 Oct. 1681. 7. Samuel, bapt. 22 July 1673. 
8. Benett, bapt. 2 Feb. 1674/5. 9. Abraham, bapt. 24 Jan. 1679/80. 
10. Mary, bapt. 11 Oct. 1681; bur. at Sawbridgeworth 13 Aug. 1704. 

iii. Samuel, bapt. at Netteswell 3 Feb. 1639/40; marriage licence for 

his marriage with Elizabeth Nicholls issued 18 Feb. 1666/7. 

iv. Barbara, bapt. at Netteswell 9 Nov. 1642. 

7. Josias Beltoft alias Belknap (Bennet, Richard , ? Henry), 

baptized at Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, 12 Aug. 1599, was 
buried there 3 Apr. 1674. He took part as one of the execu¬ 
tors in proving his father’s will, 15 June 1624. He married 
at Sawbridgeworth, 2 May 1631, Anne Milles, who was 
executrix of his will and was buried at Sawbridgeworth 
31 Oct. 1683. His will is dated 29 Mar. 1674 and was proved 
12 June 1674. 

Children, baptized at Sawbridgeworth: 

i. Josias, bapt. 4 Aug. 1632; bur. at Sawbridgeworth 13 July 1656. # 

ii. Mary, bapt. 4 May 1634; probably d. bef. 29 Mar. 1674, as she is 

not mentioned in her father’s will. Either she or her sister Grace 



20 


probably married Thomas Browne, who is called son-in-law in her 
father’s will. 

iii. Daniel, bapt. 17 Jan. 1635/6; bur. at Sawbridgeworth, as “Daniel 

Belknap of Spelbrooke,”* 2 Sept. 1680; m. Mary- , who as 

executrix proved his will 10 Dec. 1680. She may have been the 
Mary Belknap, widow, who was bur. at Sawbridgeworth 18 Nov. 
1687 (but vide supra, 6, ii). No record of children. 

iv. John, bapt. 28 Jan. 1637/8; a beneficiary in the will of his brother 

Daniel, dated 23 Aug. 1680. 

v. James, bapt. 29 Mar. 1640; probably bur. at Sawbridgeworth 20 Nov. 

1687; probably m. Susanna -. He is mentioned in his 

father’s will, 29 Mar. 1674, and in the will of his brother Daniel; 
23 Aug. 1680. Children, bapt. at Sawbridgeworth: 1. Daniel . 
bapt. 19 June 1675; bur. at Sawbridgeworth, as “of Spellbrooke,’: 
2 Jan. 1678/9. 2. Susan , bapt. 24 Dec. 1682. 

vi. Grace, bapt. 12 Feb. 1641/2; probably d. bef. 29 Mar. 1674, as 

she is not mentioned in her father’s will. Either she or her sister 
Mary probably married Thomas Browne, who is called son-in-law 
in her father’s will. 

* In the parish of Sawbridgeworth. 


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